2.3L ('83-'97) 2.3 turbo swap

[Jdhager]

I got a chance to buy a 1986 thunderbird with the 2.3t motor. With that said how easy is the swap in a 1988 ranger? Will I be able to retain my AC? The truck is a five speed. 2wheel drive.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Fairly straightforward swap, there's some wiring changes, like 10 to keep the stock Ranger harness (it will fit better), mostly have to add in the VAM and move some other wires around, there's a diagram for a turbo 2.3L and a '91 Ranger in the turbo swap section of the tech library link at the top of the page.

I would keep the Ranger transmission as it'll be easier to make work than the cable clutch if the T bird is 5 speed. Keeping AC might be doable but might involve getting a turbo header from Ebay or somewhere otherwise you'll have to do some grinding on the brackets and stuff...

 

[Jdhager]

Will the inter cooler fit from the tbird? Use the computer from the car too?

 

[MT_PLS]

See these threads from the tech archives:

Installing A Turbo 4-Cylinder Motor - The Ranger Station

By: Dave_R Turbocharged 2.3 litre motors were installed from the factory in ’79-’81 Mustangs, ’85-’89 Merkur XR4Ti’s, ’83-’88 Thunderbird TurboCoupes and some ’83-’86 Cougar XR-7’s. This page is meant to give you an overview of the engine and what is … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

Turbocharger Install - The Ranger Station

By: Russ Parker Parts Needed One turbo from an 87-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. 87 & 88 were the only two years the T/C’s were intercooled. Intercooling is the process of running the very hot compressed air through a radiator like … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

Ford 2.3L Turbo Swap Wiring Diagrams - The Ranger Station

(Photo is of “skyy_4life’s” Ranger) Forum member Sevensecondsuv submitted various wiring diagrams and pinout locations to help you guys doing turbo motor swaps. Here they are: 1988-1991 Ford Ranger Engine Wiring Diagram (.pdf) 1988 Ford Thunderbird 2.3L Turbo Wiring Diagram … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

 

[scotts90ranger]

One dumb question about the T bird, did it have A/C? If so, use those brackets, might have to use different hoses and might have to change pulleys or compressors since I think the switch to serpentine wasn't until '87...

If you use the stock turbo manifold and stuff yes it will work, how it lines up with the hood I have no idea, I have one but never installed it... a '86 wouldn't have an intercooler unless someone added an '87-88 unit on... if you're wondering on how it works without an intercooler it pings a lot under sustained boost at low altitudes and not that I condone such action but I just deal with it, the forged pistons have proven to me to be pretty resilient...

 

[bobbywalter]

this is a place i would absolutely use a holley terminator or pimp x and ms3. for boosted applications money well spent.